19 Feb 2010

New role for former Navy diver

6:09 am on 19 February 2010

A former Navy diver who survived three days in the waters off Kapiti island has a new job.

Since his ordeal in February 2006, Rob Hewitt has led water safety campaigns and coached league.

Waatea News reports he's now training crews from around the Pacific for seven double hulled fibre glass waka which will sail to Hawaii in April to rekindle knowledge of the original waka voyages which brought Maori to Aotearoa.

The waka are being built in Greenhithe on the upper Waitemata.